Lmst

Here are some random through-the-glass-slider photos of a few of the migratory songbirds finding food-a-plenty in our backyard: Yellow-Rumped Warbler & Lesser Gold Finch #YellowRumpedWarbler #LesserGoldfinch #Birds #Yarden

Three Yellow Rumped Warblers forage among brown asparagus fronds. Their yellow bellies are highlighted by the morning sunlight

Lesser Goldfinch, standing on a sunflower stalk, while hiding in the foliage. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. September, 2025. #laarboretum #bird #birds #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #birdphotographý #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

A lesser goldfinch, with dark yellow and gray striped wings, and yellow underbelly, standing on a sunflower stalk covered in tiny hairs. The bird is seen from below and behind, and it is looking back over its right shoulder towards the camera. The bird is surrounded by out of focus green foliage.

Lesser Goldfinch, standing on a sunflower stalk, while hiding in the foliage. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. September, 2025. #laarboretum #bird #birds #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #birdphotographý #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Mellow Yellow

#LesserGoldfinch #Goldfinch #MaleBird #Yellow #Birds #Wildlife

A male Lesser Goldfinch bird perched on a tree branch.

Lesser Goldfinch eating sunflower seeds. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. June, 2025. #laarboretum #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #bird #birds #birdphotographý #nature #naturephotography #photography #amateurphotography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

A Lesser Goldfinch, with gray and white wingw and a bright yellow body, is perched on a sunflower stalk, which is bending over with the weight of the bird's body. The bird is bent over plucking sunflower seeds out of the remains of an old sunflower.

Lesser Goldfinch eating sunflower seeds. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. June, 2025. #laarboretum #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #bird #birds #birdphotographý #nature #naturephotography #photography #amateurphotography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Lesser Goldfinch on a sunflower stalk. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. June, 2025. #laarboretum #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #bird #birds #birdphotographý #nature #naturephotography #photography #amateurphotography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Photo of a Lesser Goldfinch, facing to the left, perched on a sunflower stalk which is bending under the bird's weight. The bird ha gray wings, and a bright yellow body.

Lesser Goldfinch on a sunflower stalk. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. June, 2025. #laarboretum #goldfinch #lessergoldfinch #bird #birds #birdphotographý #nature #naturephotography #photography #amateurphotography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Pittsburgh Colors

#LesserGoldfinch #Goldfinch #Spring #MaleBird #Birds #Wildlife

A male Lesser Goldfinch bird perched on a bent twig in Deer Creek Canyon Park, Colorado.

Northward range expansion of the Lesser Goldfish, a bird endemic to the southwest U.S., has followed warming temperatures and availability of suitable habitat. Breeding populations in Washington state increased 110% from 2012 to 2022.

Summary: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422190647.htm

Original paper (not open access): https://academic.oup.com/auk/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ornithology/ukaf013/8116731?redirectedFrom=fulltext

#Science #Birds #ClimateChange #Ecology #LesserGoldfinch

In my latest blog post/email newsletter I continued my All About Birds mini-series. Here’s Part 3 featuring my natural history art & info:

https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/p/all-about-birds-part-3

#SciArt #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #PerpetualJournal #blog #Tucson #SonoranDesert #environment #ecosystem #nature #outdoors #bird #birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #Cardinal #Bluebird #LesserGoldfinch #Goldfinch #arthropod #butterfly #larva #caterpillar #pupa #chrysalis

My watercolor art of a Lesser Goldfinch, with text overlaid that reads "All About Birds, Part 3 - Northern Cardinals, Lesser Goldfinches & Western Bluebirds" - paulaborchardt.substack.com

Every winter, we hang up mesh socks filled with nyjer seed, and the lesser goldfinches arrive in droves! At first, they’re fairly drab, but as spring approaches, the males transform into brilliant yellow breeding plumage—just like this one.

The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is one of the smallest finches in North America, measuring just 4–4.5 inches long. They’re social, lively, and a joy to watch as they gather in flocks around feeders. Do you get goldfinches in your area? 🐦💛

#BirdWatching #LesserGoldfinch #WildlifePhotography #BackyardBirding #NatureLovers

Every winter, my wife and I put out mesh “socks” filled with nyjer seed. The lesser goldfinches (and a few other finch species) show up in droves. When the lesser goldfinches arrive in mid to late winter, they are all fairly drab-colored. However, as spring approaches, the males transform into the vibrant yellow breeding coloration seen here.

The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is one of the smallest finch species in North America, measuring only about 4 to 4.5 inches in length. These lively birds are found primarily in the western United States, Mexico, and Central America. Males are known for their striking yellow plumage and black cap, while females display more subdued olive tones. Lesser goldfinches are highly social and often gather in large flocks, especially around feeders filled with nyjer or sunflower seeds. Their songs are a delightful mix of musical warbles and mimicry of other birds.

Good as Gold

#LesserGoldfinch #Goldfinch #Yellow #TinyBird #Birds #Wildlife

A Lesser Goldfinch bird perched high in a bare tree in front of a clear blue sky.

I was cutting some rosemary for dinner (being careful to avoid spooking the honey bees), heard a rustling, and spied a lesser goldfinch trying to hide under the sourgrass and leaf litter.

Dude, be glad I'm not a hawk, or you'd be dead. 🙁

(This is also a “the best camera is the one you have with you” moment; I used my cell phone.)

#BackyardBirds #Goldfinch #LesserGoldfinch #Birds

A spread of mixed groundcover plants, including sourgrass, ivy, rosemary, and a lot of leaf litter. A lesser goldfinch — a small songbird with a soft yellow body and striated brown, black, and white wings, is hiding head first in the litter, with its back, body, and tail clearly visible.

Heh. I should have cropped it this way. The goldfinch peering down at the nuthatch is the best part.
#BackyardBirds #Nuthatch #PygmyNuthatch #Goldfinch #LesserGoldfinch

Three birds are perched at a transparent tube feeder. A less goldfinch on a top rung is peering down, watching a pygmy nuthatch on a lower rung that has a freshly-grabbed seed in its beak.

#BirdMaxxing: 1 bird/hour until 11/11 🤖
Lesser Goldfinch, 14th November 2022
Tucson Mountain Park, Old Tucson, Arizona
Canon EOS R5, Canon 800mm f/11, 40% crop, 1/250s, ISO 5000
#Birds #LesserGoldfinch #HopeIsTheThingWithFeathers

A bright yellow bellied, black capped finch peers out from a tangle of twigs.

A Lesser Gold Finch gorging on sweet basil seeds in our backyard #BirdPhotography #LesserGoldFinch #Fujifilm #SOoC

A small bird with grey and yellow plumage perched on dry, brown stems with wilted leaves, amidst a few green sweet basil leaves. The bird has a beak full of black seeds.

A small yellow-bellied bird with a beak full of seeds is perched among dry plants and foliage. An orange pin flag is partially visible among the greenery in the background.

#BirdMaxxing: 1 bird/hour until 11/11 🤖
Lesser Goldfinch, 11st November 2022
Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon, Arizona
Canon EOS R5, Canon 800mm f/11, 1/320s, ISO 3200
#Birds #LesserGoldfinch #VoteBlueForBirds